Congresswoman Lesko Weekly Update

Good morning,

I had a wonderful week in Arizona!

Securing Our Border

I was at the border this week! I talked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents who are on the ground and seeing firsthand the effects of Biden’s border crisis. I toured a CBP facility in Tucson, AZ, where I talked with Border Patrol agents, including Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin, and heard from them on what needs to be done to secure our southern border.

I also toured CBP’s Air and Marine Operations to learn more about their operations on the ground and in the air to secure our border.

I also went down to the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, AZ where I met with Port Director Michael Humphries and discussed the rise of fentanyl seizures and the drug crisis we are facing at the border. Agents there said they had seized nearly half a million deadly fentanyl pills in just 12 days.

In Nogales, AZ, I went to the border wall, where I saw the partially completed border wall. Taxpayers have already paid for the materials to finish the wall, but these materials are just lying on the ground next to the wall. We must finish the wall to help secure the border! I also visited a cross border tunnel with CBP agents. Cartels use these underground tunnels to traffic drugs and smuggle people across the border. This visit to the border has been extremely eye-opening into the crisis we are facing at our southern border. It is my hope that the Biden Administration reverses its current course and decides to support our CBP agents, enforce existing immigration laws, and finish the wall.

I put together some videos of my trip, watch them below!

Promoting Nuclear Energy

I joined the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy to discuss our nation’s nuclear energy with National Regulatory Commissioner Christopher Hanson. I asked him about his plan to keep fees for nuclear plants low, as these plants should not have to shoulder increasing fees as the number of nuclear plants declines. I also asked him about how he plans to create regulatory certainty regarding advanced nuclear reactors as we look to make nuclear energy an important part of our nation’s energy future. Watch my full remarks here.

Legislative Update

I joined Congressman Andy Biggs in urging U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to protect taxpayers from funding abortions. We wrote to Secretary Becerra to request that he immediately withdraw a proposed rule that would allow abortion providers to receive Title X family planning grants. Abortion is not a method of family planning, it is the destruction of innocent human life. No taxpayer, especially those who have strong moral objections to abortion, should be forced to foot the bill for the Democrats’ abortion agenda and subsidize the destruction of human life.

I also joined Representative Jim Banks in demanding that the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees board of directors take disciplinary action against athletes who partake in anti-American protests. Political demonstrations are banned by the U.S. Olympic Committee. If the board fails to take disciplinary action against any athletes who use their platform to promote divisive rhetoric, Congress will look into dissolving and replacing the board.

Congressional Recognition

I was proud to present a Congressional Recognition to a non-profit in Glendale, AZ called Help 4 Kidz. Founded by Reverend Eve Nunez after she lost her son to cancer, Help 4 Kidz provides spiritual counseling as well as support for children who are at-risk or who have suffered trauma, including victims of human trafficking. Help 4 Kidz is also known as the “Frankie Nunez Foundation” to honor her son who passed away.

Pictured left to right: Pastor Sherry Holiday, Reverend Eve Nunez, Congresswoman Debbie Lesko, and Pastor Sam Holiday

Encouraging Story

I want to share this story about how Phoenix Children’s Hospital is in a friendly competition against a children’s hospital in Wisconsin! The competition includes spray painting doctors’ hair and a trivia contest. It’s great to see how the Phoenix Children’s Hospital is supporting the kids there and cheering on the Phoenix Suns as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks to try and win it all. Go Suns!

Casework Highlight

A constituent filed her taxes in February 2021, but she had yet to receive her refund as of July 2021. Our office reached out to the Internal Revenue Service, and the constituent’s refund was issued one week later.

We are Here to Help

As always, my office is here to help. My Surprise district office is now open and serving constituents. To make an appointment with the office, please call 623-776-7911.

My Washington, D.C. office is open and answering your calls. Please feel free to contact us via phone at 202-225-4576 or via email by going to my website at https://lesko.house.gov/contact/.

I encourage you to visit the website and to also follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Parler and like my Facebook page for up to date information on what I'm doing and how my office can help you.

May God continue to bless you and our great Nation.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko